Kickin' it with Molly

Published: Monday, February 4, 2013 at 11:21 AM.

Last Monday, I heard something I have been waiting to hear for many weeks: my Sifu (teaching father) telling me that I would be testing soon for my yellow belt.

In my last column, I talked about reaching our goals by hard work and determination. Finally, my yellow belt goal is within sight, and I'm incredibly excited.

A few weeks ago, I finished my white belt form, called Kung leh Kuen. Forms are like a series of techniques, which include punches, kicks, chops, jumps and more. You learn a form a little bit at a time. When you finish learning all of it, and can perform it without forgetting what you're doing, then you are ready to move to the next belt level. For some belt levels, you also have to spar before moving up. And, of course, you have to know the basic punches and kicks.

Since I've finished my form, as soon as it looks spot on, my Sifu will schedule a test time. And yes, we are graded.

Sad to say, my test for my white belt didn't have fantastic grades. My only real A (I don't count an A minus) was for my form. Forms are my favorite thing to do. This time, I hope to do better in terms of grades, on the punches and kicks.

There's one more thing I'll have to complete at my test: a two and a half minute horse stance. A horse stance is a real test of endurance. It's tough to stay in that position, knees bent to the side, arms curved in front of you, without standing up. If you do stand up, you fail the test.

Last Monday, I heard something I have been waiting to hear for many weeks: my Sifu (teaching father) telling me that I would be testing soon for my yellow belt.

In my last column, I talked about reaching our goals by hard work and determination. Finally, my yellow belt goal is within sight, and I'm incredibly excited.

A few weeks ago, I finished my white belt form, called Kung leh Kuen. Forms are like a series of techniques, which include punches, kicks, chops, jumps and more. You learn a form a little bit at a time. When you finish learning all of it, and can perform it without forgetting what you're doing, then you are ready to move to the next belt level. For some belt levels, you also have to spar before moving up. And, of course, you have to know the basic punches and kicks.

Since I've finished my form, as soon as it looks spot on, my Sifu will schedule a test time. And yes, we are graded.

Sad to say, my test for my white belt didn't have fantastic grades. My only real A (I don't count an A minus) was for my form. Forms are my favorite thing to do. This time, I hope to do better in terms of grades, on the punches and kicks.

There's one more thing I'll have to complete at my test: a two and a half minute horse stance. A horse stance is a real test of endurance. It's tough to stay in that position, knees bent to the side, arms curved in front of you, without standing up. If you do stand up, you fail the test.

So I have a lot to practice before my test. But if I pass, I will be presented with my yellow belt. And I'll be just one belt below my little brother.

To get an idea of our belt system, Kung Fu has eight belt levels.

The first belt is white and the others are as follows: yellow, orange, green, blue, purple, brown, and lastly, black.

Two students in our school are now ready to test for their black belts. I have a long way to go to reach that point, but that in itself is exciting. They are reaching their goals. And, someday, so will I.

The form I just finished, Kung leh Kuen, means "Power and Strength." If I can demonstrate those two things, I might just hear the phrase Sifu always says if you do well: "Not bad." It may not sound like much, but it means a lot. It means I’m on my way to that black belt mountain.